Camouflage cover for helmets



XR 3 9 O l 5 9 1 04 J. H. CROSSON ETAL $015,104 CAMOUFLAGE COVER FOR HELMETS Jan. 2, 1962 Filed Mar ch 2a, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m V m ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1962 J. H. CROSSON ETAI. 3,015,104- CAMOUFLAGE covza FOR mms'bs Filed March 28, 1960 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Jean 1 1. Crossori. Harry N. K

ATTORNEY 3,015,104 CAMOUFLAGE COVER FOR HELMETS I Jean H. Crosson, Natick, and Harry N. Khanbegian, Roslindale, Mass., assignors to the United States of Amerlcl as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Mar. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 18,205 2 Claims. (Cl. 2-6) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) profile of the helmet when seen against a contrasting background. In the past, such covers have relied upon camoutlage coloring and/or a close fitting cover with openings therethrough, through which natural foliage may be extended to break up the symmetrical profile of the helmet.

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. 2 is formed of a plurality of sections 17, 18, 19 and 20. Obviously, more or fewer sections could be utilized. Such sections 1'7 to 20 inclusive have free lower edges which when assembled comprise the lower edge 13 of the outer ply. Likewise, each section 17 to 20 includes side edge Such covers have the disadvantage that the user must take considerable time pluckingthe natural foliage and applying it to the cover. Also, it is inevitable that certain terrain will fail to provide any natural foliage whereby such covers are virtually useless when seen in silhouette.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved camouflage cover for a protective helmet.

A further object is to provide such a cover which includes means integral therewith for providing an irregular profile at all angles.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the structure of the several elements thereof, combinations and subcombinations of such elements with each other and/or with a protective helmet, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing illustrating one species of the invention and to the following specification wherein the invention is described and claimed. I

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a frontal elevational view showing the cover applied to a protective helmet;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view thereof;

portions 21. The adjacent side edgeportions 21 of adjacent sections are secured together in face-to-face relation by any suitable stitches or the like 22 so that the side edge portions 21 extendradially outwardly of the outer ply 12 substantial distances. Likewise, such side portions 21 terminate in free edges 23 which are defined by ragged lines to provide helmet profile disguising means in the nature of coarse coxcombs. In the species shown, the sections 17--20 are substantially identical and FIGURE 5 illustrates an acceptable pattern for seetii n 19. There the broken lines 220 designate the lines of connection with the adjacent sections by means of the stitching 22; 13a designates a portion of the lower edge 13; and the edge portions 23a designate the free irregular edges 23. Obviously, each section need not be identical and patterns other than that illustrated in FIGURE 5 are contemplated. Preferably the outer ply 12 is formed of rough, coarse fabric such as burlap to avoid reflections. Also, if desired, an elastic band 24 may be applied to the outer ply 12 to secure an intermediate portion of the same closely to the helmet 9. is important if flexible n'icmber 25 (to be described) is omitted. Elastic band 24 is secured to the cover 10 by relatively widely spaced means such as the tacking 26 to permit the stems of live foliage to be 30 inserted thereunder to increase the effectiveness of the cover. This band 24 may be omitted if suitable other means are provided to secure cover 10 in place.

The cover 10 is provided with any suitable means for attaching the same to the helmet 9. In the embodiment illustrated, such means comprise a flexible member 25 which is secured to opposite ends or sides of the lower edge 14 of the inner ply 11, FIGURE 4. As shown in full lines in FIGURE 4, the member 25 may be secured to opposite sides or the cover 10. The broken lines show it secured to the front and rear of the inner ply 11. This last is the preferred arrangement when the cover is used with a helmet having a chin strap 6 to avoid interference therewith. Such flexible member 25 is adapted to extend across the inner surface of the helmet 9 and to be secured .therein by the outer surface of the usual helmet liner,

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the cover accord-- j ing to the invention apart from the protective helmet; and

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of an acceptable pattern for an element of the invention.

erence characters represent like parts in all views, 10 designates generally a preferred formv of the cover accord- ;not shown, if one is used or by the head of the wearer if there is no helmetliner. Obviously, any other suitable means such as books, snap fasteners, buttons or other separable fasteners could be utilized to secure the cover I 10 to the helmet 9. i 1 Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like ref- 1 ing to the invention. Such cover, as best seen in FIGURE 4 comprises an inner rply 11 of any suitable flexible mateouter ply 12 which is substantially larger than the inner ply and includes an outer or lower edge 13 which extends substantially beyond the corresponding edge 14 of the inner ply 11. Plies 11 and 12 are secured together in any suitable manner as by being sewed to each other along the edge 14 of the inner ply. The lower edge 13 of the outer ply 12 is of irregular configuration and may be roughly star-shaped to provide a plurality of points 15 and notches 16. The inner ply 11 need not be centered on the outer ply 12 as shown. Instead, the front edge 8 of the outer ply 12 may project beyond the inner ply 11 less than does the rear edge 7 to increase the forward field of vision of the wearer.

. As best seen in FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 5 the outer ply 12 It is obvious that the provision of a plurality of serrated coxcombs projecting outwardly of the cover It) in a plurality of radial directions provides an irregular .profile for the helmet irrespective of the angle from which it 5 is viewed. By extending the free edge portions 21 outrial preferably textile material, which is of a size and wardly substantial distances and by forming their,free edges 23 as coarse coxcombs, the profile remains irregular even when viewed from a distance. Likewise, it is obvious that the cover is readily adaptable to the use of additional camouflage materials such as natural foliage by inserting the stems thereof underneath theelastic band 24 between tacking stitches 26. Thus, the cover is utilizable as camouflage under all conditions irrespective whether or not natural foliage or other camouflage material is available. It is understood, that the outer ply.12

may be dyed or painted with a mottled effect typical of conventional camouflage, if desired.

While there has been shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

0 it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, the invention is not considered to be limited to the precise structure shown 3 and described hereinabove but only as hereinafter claimed.

We claim: l. A camouflage cover for a protective helmet, com- 1 1 prising four similar sections of flexible material having bottom edges and side edge portions, means connecting said side edge portions together in face-to-face relation to provide a generally helmet shaped assembly, said connected side edge portions having substantially long outwardly projecting free edges defined by ragged lines to comprise helmet-profile disguising means in the nature of coarse coxcombs, there being eoxcombs extending genv erally transversely and generally longitudinally of said helmet when said cover is applied thereto, said bottom edges being likewise defined by ragged lines in the nature of coarse coxcombs and extending below said helmet when said cover is applied thereto to provide additional profile-disguising means, and means for securing said cover to said helmet.

2. A camouflage cover for a protective helmet, cornprising a plurality of sections of coarse flexible fabric materialvon the order of burlap having bottom and side edge portions, means connecting said side edge portions together in face-to-faoe relation to provide a generally 4 1 helmet-shaped cover, said connected side edge portions having radially outwardly directed free edges of suhsliub tial length defined by ragged lines to provide helmet pro file disguising means in the nature of conrsc-coxcombs, said bottom edges of said sections being defined by ragged lines, likewise in the nature of coarse coxcombs, said bottom edges extending below said helmet when said cover is applied thereover, and means for securing said cover over said helmet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 142,008 Marks t Aug. 7, 1945- 16 1,657,865 Merle Jan. 31, 1928 2,242,420 DiGiovanna May 20, 1941., 2,911,652 Ekman Nov. 10, 1959v v FOREIGN PATENTS 412,335 France Apr. 30, 1910 548,528 Great Britain Feb. 18, 1942 1,110,086 France on. s. 1955 

